Monday News (includes West Ham)

[Alan]

BBC

Arsenal have joined Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United in the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt's 23-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike. (Sport Bild - in German, subscription required), external

Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart are interested in Manchester City's 22-year-old England Under-21 midfielder James McAtee. (Times - subscription required), external

Liverpool are willing to offer 19-year-old Scotland winger Ben Doak as part of a deal for Crystal Palace's 24-year-old England defender Marc Guehi. (Sun), external

Sporting's 27-year-old Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres has told the club he will not return and wants a move this summer. (Record - in Portuguese, subscription required), external

Manchester United remain interested in Fiorentina's Moise Kean but the 25-year-old Italy striker's 52m euro (£44m) release clause expires on 15 July. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

Thomas Partey will leave Arsenal when his contract expires on Monday after the 32-year-old Ghana midfielder failed to agree a new deal. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Sunderland have offered Reinildo Mandava a two-year contract worth £65,000 a week following the 31-year-old Mozambique left-back's release by Atletico Madrid. (Guardian), external

Nottingham Forest are close to signing Botafogo's 24-year-old Brazil striker Igor Jesus for £10m. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Manchester United are ready to accept a cut-price deal for Tyrell Malacia after PSV Eindhoven opted not to turn the 25-year-old Netherlands full-back's loan into a permanent deal. (Mirror), external

Sunderland are among several Premier League clubs interested in Toulouse's 22-year-old England Under-21 centre-back Charlie Cresswell, who has an £18m release clause in his contract. (Sun), external

Qatar have held talks with Fifa over potentially hosting the 2029 Club World Cup, which would have to take place in winter. (Guardian), external

Sheffield Wednesday could face a mass player departure if wages are not paid on Monday, with the side already subject to a three-window fee restriction starting this summer.

The Owls could also be losing German boss Danny Rohl, 36, who is being linked to the vacant managerial role at newly relegated Leicester City. (Sky Sports), external

Southampton and England defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 23, is the subject of a reported £20m bid from Portuguese side FC Porto. (The72), external

Leicester and Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward could be heading back to his hometown club Wrexham with the 32-year-old set to undergo a medical. (Daily Mail), external

Charlton Athletic are interested in signing experienced Luton Town goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, 32, following their promotion to the Championship. (Luton Today), external

The Addicks are also closing in on a signature for Stockport County striker Isaac Olaofe, 25.

West Bromwich Albion are considering a move for Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Kelman after the 23-year-old impressed last season on loan at Leyton Orient, earning League One's golden boot with 21 goals. (Darren Witcoop via X), external

Morecambe forward Lee Angol, 30, is set to undergo a medical to join Cheltenham Town. (Gloucestershire Live)




Sky Paper Talk

DAILY MIRROR

Viktor Gyokeres will refuse to return to Sporting Lisbon this summer in an attempt to force through a transfer.

Manchester United's hopes that Inter Milan would follow up their enquiry with a bid for misfiring £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund have taken a huge hit.

Tyrell Malacia is the latest player Manchester United are struggling to shift as their rebuild is hampered by a number of players on their books who they cannot sell.

Wrexham are set to sign goalkeeper Danny Ward on a free transfer.

Liverpool's decision to go after Marc Guehi is in part motivated by a fear that Ibrahima Konate will leave Anfield when his contract expires.

DAILY MAIL

Bundesliga heavyweights are battling to land James McAtee after the attacking midfielder captained England's U21s to European glory against Germany.

Sporting Lisbon president Frederico Varandas believes Viktor Gyokeres will leave the club this summer - but has warned potential suitors they will not get the Swedish striker on the cheap.

The transfer window is set to hot up this week - following the arrival of the new reporting year under the Premier League's financial rules.

THE TIMES

Five German clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund, are weighing up a bid for James McAtee, who is valued at upwards of £25m by Manchester City.

James Lowe has told Australia that the British & Irish Lions will keep laughing at their sledging attempts as long as they carry on winning.

THE TELEGRAPH

Chelsea have held talks with the Mayor of London's office over building a new stadium.

Nottingham Forest are close to signing Botafogo striker Igor Jesus in a major coup for the Premier League club.

THE SUN

Liverpool are ready to throw flying Scot Ben Doak into a swap deal for England star Marc Guehi.

Sporting Lisbon have told Arsenal they will not budge on their Viktor Gyokeres valuation in another transfer window hammerblow.

Charlie Cresswell's stand-out performances for England Under-21s have pushed up his asking price to £18m - but that is not putting off buyers.

Sheffield United are ready to pay a stunning £6m for Ashley Phillips - if Tottenham change their minds.

THE GUARDIAN

Qatar has expressed interest in bidding to host the 2029 Club World Cup, in a move that would involve moving the tournament to the winter.

THE SCOTTISH SUN

Rangers are ready to crank up their efforts to sign Brazilian midfielder Metinho.

DAILY RECORD

Jermain Defoe has urged Rangers to tie up a deal for Conor Coady - as he revealed the Leicester City star is keen on a move to Ibrox.




Guardian Rumour mill

Will Unwin

As always, every single football team in the country needs a brand new striker to take them from mediocre to champions. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have already taken a long look at Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, done the calculations and have not yet signed him. This casual messing about has allowed others to consider their position and Arsenal are now also interested in the Frenchman, who is worth an absolute shedload.

One reason Mikel Arteta may have turned his attention to the Frenchman, is the lack of movement in Arsenal’s pursuit of Sporting striker Viktor Gyökeres. The Swedish international is keen to depart the Portuguese club and he might just get his wish after a bit of complaining. Sporting president Frederico Varandas has admitted the club are willing to accept a fee lower than his €100m (£85.6m) release clause.

Heading out of the Emirates Stadium is midfielder Thomas Partey. The club and player could not agree on terms for a new deal and he will be allowed to leave for free this week, bringing Turkish and Saudi Arabian teams to the party. The Gunners will not be too worried because Martín Zubimendi is set to complete his move from Real Sociedad in the coming days.

Liverpool’s eagerness to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace could see the club offer up Ben Doak in a part-exchange. The Scottish attacker flourished with Middlesbrough in the Championship but the Eagles will still want plenty of cash to go along with the teenager. Another who may exit Anfield is Darwin Núñez, who accepts his days at Liverpool are numbered and is happy to join Serie A winners Napoli. There is a sticking point in terms of the £20m difference in valuation, though.

Nottingham Forest are close to completing a deal for Botafogo striker Igor Jesus. The Brazilian, who has impressed at the Club World Cup, will cost in the region of £10m but reports he will be joined by Real Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo at the City Ground are a little premature.

Another Forest target is becoming Germany’s most-wanted man. James McAtee helped England win the European Under-21 Championship but is unlikely to stay at Manchester City, who want £25m for the playmaker. Dortmund, Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart have all watched McAtee and could make a move for the City academy graduate.

Sunderland are keen on adding to the imminent arrival of Reinildo on a free transfer from Atlético Madrid. England Under-21 European Championship winner Charlie Cresswell, currently of Toulouse, is on the radar but the Black Cats face plenty of competition from Premier League rivals for the centre-back.

Enticing offers for Tyrell Malacia is proving difficult for Manchester United. They are still extremely keen to get rid of the left-back and his wages, though, so could accept an offer of a packet of Quavers and a can of Dr Pepper in exchange for his services.

And north of the border, Celtic are very close to signing Albirex Niigata centre-back Hayato Inamura. The 23-year-old Japan international is set for a medical before some i dotting and t crossing.





G&H

Another One Bites The Dust as West Ham Ditch Assassin Bid

West Ham’s chase for young forward Lucas Stassin appears to have come to an abrupt end, according to reports in the French media.

The 20-year-old striker—whose impressive form couldn’t prevent Saint-Étienne from slipping into Ligue 2—had been strongly linked with a move to East London. So much so, in fact, that Stassin was believed to be in talks with the Hammers and tipped as the frontrunner among the many forwards linked to the club.

However, according to Peuple-Vert a publication focused on the French second tier—West Ham have now pulled out of the race. The report claims we’ve “abandoned” our pursuit of the Belgian attacker and are instead turning our attention elsewhere.

That, in itself, is a bit of a shame. ‘Stassin the Assassin’ looked a player of real promise—young, affordable, and fresh off a season in which he was named Young Player of the Year.

But it seems the club are moving in a different direction.




Caught Offside

£40m price set: Liverpool ready to sell in-form star, West Ham have enquired

Liverpool are reportedly ready to sell Harvey Elliott for around £40m this summer, with West Ham United among the clubs to have enquired about him.

The 22-year-old has really caught the eye recently, having just been named the player of the tournament as England Under-21s won the European Championships.

Still, it’s been tricky for Elliott to get regular playing time at Liverpool and he could now move on if the price is right, according to TBR Football.

The report states that West Ham and numerous other clubs are showing an interest in Elliott.

That includes names from the Premier League, but also Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, according to TBR Football.

What next for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott?

This latest update on Elliott is not so dissimilar from what CaughtOffside were told a few days ago.

The England Under-21 international could be open to leaving Anfield and could also have Chelsea as potential surprise suitors this summer, sources confirmed to CaughtOffside.

Some Liverpool fans will surely be concerned about losing this talented young player, but it seems like it’s going to continue to be difficult for him to play regularly in Arne Slot’s side.

In many ways, West Ham looks like an ideal destination for him as he could be given more of a key role and could be a good fit for Graham Potter’s style of football.

Still, if Elliott also has interest from big clubs in Germany, or someone with Champions League football like Chelsea, then it might be tricky for the Hammers to convince him to choose a move to the London Stadium instead.



Sport Witness

West Ham bringing in Linus Kandolin – Confidence Swede on way to Hammers

West Ham United are set to bring IF Elfsborg goalkeeping coach Linus Kandolin to the club.

Sweden’s Fotbollskanalen report on the move and their title states: ‘West Ham buy Kandolin from Elfsborg’

The 34-year-old spent four years at Östersunds FK before leaving them to join Elfsborg in January 2019 as their goalkeeping coach. He’s maintained that role for more than six years and is now set to join West Ham.

Last September, the Swede extended his contract until the end of 2027. Therefore, the Hammers are now paying a fee to Elfsborg to secure his services, and the report makes no mention of any figures.

Kandolin played a key role in developing Hákon Valdimarsson, who was sold to Brentford for SEK 40m [€3.6m] in January 2024. With that transfer he became the most expensive goalkeeper to be sold from the Swedish league.

Alphonse Areola, Wes Foderingham and Łukasz Fabiański were the three goalkeepers at the Premier League club last season. West Ham have released Fabiański and it’s unclear whether they’ll sign a replacement.

Last season, the trio trained under Xavi Valero, who has been West Ham’s goalkeeping coach since 2018. His contract expires later today and Kandolin is set to replace him to be part of Graham Potter’s backroom staff.

[Texas Iron]

Cheers…

[With Kind Regards]

Thanks Alan.